By Myka Kennedy Stephens, Kelly Campbell May 6, 2025
Members of the 2024-2025 cohort of the Leadership Development for Theological Librarians program in front of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA.
Listen to the Podcast Version Watch the YouTube Version
We are passionate about nurturing leaders—especially those in the unique world of theological librarianship. As our second cohort is nearing the end of its program year, we reflect on two years of the Leadership Development for Theological Librarians program. Here is some of our inspiration, philosophy, and special moments that have shaped our work. For our full conversation, please watch or listen to the podcast version linked above.
Why We Started This Program
Kelly’s journey as a leader in theological librarianship began 15 years ago at a leadership colloquium for new theological librarians. That experience was transformative—she built relationships that have lasted her entire career and learned valuable lessons. But when that program ended, a gap emerged. Theological librarianship is a niche field, and as our profession faces shrinking numbers and changing landscapes, we saw the urgent need to train and empower the next generation of leaders. When Kelly and Myka began discussing starting a program, Kelly was excited to combine her experience and passion for leadership development with Fosgail’s vision.
Myka remembers waiting for that same colloquium when she became a director of a theological library, only to find it wasn’t continued. She had to piece together her own leadership development, relying on her network and seeking mentors. Not everyone has the time or resources to do this, especially as theological librarianship is changing at a rapid pace and professional development becomes harder to access. That’s why we created a program that’s intentional, supportive, and accessible to all theological librarians—not just those at larger, well-funded schools.
Our Philosophy: Leadership Is for Everyone
Leadership isn’t just for directors or administrators. Anyone, regardless of their role, can be a leader and an advocate. Our program is designed to help participants recognize their own potential, advocate for their libraries, and develop both personally and professionally.
Leadership involves a particular mindset and attitude. It’s about understanding your context, your influence, and your unique strengths. We want to help people discover their leadership style and bring their authentic selves to their work.
Program Goals: Self-Awareness, Community, and Growth
We focus on three main goals:
- Increasing knowledge of basic leadership practices
- Building a supportive cohort and professional network
- Cultivating deep self-awareness
Self-awareness is foundational. Leaders need to understand how they impact others and how their unique qualities shape their leadership style. We also believe in the power of community—a cohort model allows participants to learn with and from each other, building lasting relationships and a shared language.
The cohort experience is transformative. Participants realize they’re not alone, and the bonds they form often last beyond the program. Vulnerability is key; being open to growth and self-reflection creates a special environment for learning.
Tools for Growth: CliftonStrengths and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument
We use two psychometric tools: CliftonStrengths and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI). CliftonStrengths provides a positive language for understanding and leveraging your strengths. It’s practical, easy to use, and helps teams work better together.
The TKI helps participants understand their preferred approach to conflict, and also to see conflict as a neutral problem-solving opportunity. Reframing conflict and learning about different conflict modes gives leaders practical skills for working with people and navigating challenges.
Special Moments and Looking Ahead
One of our favorite memories is witnessing creativity emerge through group coaching sessions. Watching the cohorts grow together, both online and during our in-person retreat in Atlanta, has been incredibly rewarding.
The in-person retreat is a highlight. Sharing Atlanta’s rich history and watching participants connect in person brings a special dimension to the program. Each cohort has an private online space as well as a shared inter-cohort space in the Fosgail Community platform, which has enabled ongoing networking and support across cohorts.
Our Hopes for the Future
We plan to continue offering this cohort-based program so that we may continue to inspire and develop leaders in theological librarianship and beyond. By fostering a community of learning and leadership, we aim to give back to a field that has given us so much. Our dream is to see more cohorts, more connections, and more empowered leaders making a difference.
If you’re interested in joining a future cohort or want to learn more, sign up for our newsletter, Field Notes, or join the Fosgail Community. Let’s continue this journey of growth together.
Invitation to Further Conversation
Want to learn more about our offerings? Our leadership development coaching packages and cohort program offerings are on our Leadership Development page.
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Curious about the Fosgail Community? Anyone can join the Always Open, Forever Free tier for further conversation, support, and encouragement.